Journalist: Trump May Be Blackmailing U.S. Lawmakers With Russian Help

“I think what concerns me most is that they seem afraid ... They lack all dignity." -Sarah Kendzior

Sarah Kendzior, a journalist and expert on authoritarianism, appeared on MSNBC Thursday telling host Joy Reid it is possible that President Donald Trump is blackmailing certain Republicans with help from Russia. Kendzior also chided top level GOP officials for their submissiveness to the president.

According to Raw Story, one Republican senator singled out by Kendzior was South Carolina's Lindsey Graham, who mysteriously went from calling Trump a "kook" early on to blasting the media for attempting to "label the guy some kind of kook not fit to be president."

The uncomfortably effusive praise of Trump by Vice President Mike Pence and members of the cabinet, as well as an unctuous speech by long-serving Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) led Kendzior to speculate that Trump might even be blackmailing some officials.

Kendzior brought to bear the fact that the RNC was hacked and that numerous Republican politicians cashed in on 2016 donations from Russians living in the U.S.

“We don’t know what happened with those e-mails. We know that Lindsey Graham’s personal e-mails were also hacked and we know that Trump has a long track record of blackmailing and threatening those who he sees as his political opponents. That goes back throughout his entire career.”

“I think what concerns me most is that they seem afraid,” she said of the Republicans gathered to heap compliments on Trump this week. “They seem unable to stand up for themselves. They lack all dignity.”

It's certainly a strong possibility. Putin isn't stupid as is donny so in some ways, he probably IS influencing every piece of EO's and legislation. Most likely controlling most private, dark money as well. It's one help of a mess I'm not certain we'll find our way out of.

It all makes sense now, long-serving republicans who used to negotiate out of loyalty to country and honor are now bending over backwards for the dear leader, case in point: Lindsay Graham and Paul Ryan (Mitch McConnell has ALWAYS only looked out for number one, so..)